C.E.O x C.E.O

Ch. 30 - Three Angry Women And An Old Man

Meanwhile...

Max isn't going to get away with this. Katherine sure as hell wouldn't let him forget the things he's done these past few days, trying to ruin her boss. She isn't about to let weeks of investigations go to waste either.

The article ignites a spark on her every nerve, seeing just how bullshit it is. People in the comments and even the article itself jumping to conclusions based on the things Max has told them. But of course, news like this spreads like wildfire. People strive for drama and hatred. And go out of their way to make things worse as if it would benefit their lives.

And Katherine certainly couldn't do anything about it. People won't hear her when she speaks the truth, make a statement. They would simply think she's vouching for James solely because he's her boss. And understandably so. At the same time, she sees the bias. Because it's statements like those that get silenced the most.

"Holy shit, girl!" Tamara practically smashes through the door. "People are going crazy! Why are they even going crazy? People get punched all the time."

"It's the status, Tamara," Katherine says. "They wouldn't expect someone like James, who makes himself look calm and friendly on the outside, to punch someone. It makes for good tabloid... unfortunately."

"What even caused Artino to punch him anyway?" Tamara asks. "Why is nobody questioning that?"

"Because it will lead to answers that would potentially resolve the drama," Selene appears behind her, frown and all. Why wouldn't she be? "Some people just like conflict."

Tamara clicks her tongue. "Damn..."

Katherine's knuckles are already white. She's about to punch someone too at this point.

"Whoa, girl," Tamara brings her hands up defensively. "I ain't never seen you so angry before."

Prior to those words, Katherine takes a deep breath, and attempts to calm herself down. She won't be able to work or get anything done under this sort of pressure.

Katherine stalks over to Tamara and Selene to join them in the hotel hallway. Staying all day in the hotel room might just limit her means of thinking up a plan. "No more padding, we need to collect evidence on Hart as soon as possible, before the news spreads even more than it already is."

"But that'd mean we'd have to," - Tamara outlines it with her fingers - "get a confession out of him regarding his past assassination attempts, tape him in the act, and we got to somehow do all that without seeming suspicious or framing ourselves as the perpetrators."

Katherine groans loudly, the frustration getting to her. "Maximilian Hart, I-"

"Um, good morning, ladies."

They all turn to the new voice, and they find Cozbi standing there, fiddling with his sleeve. By the looks of it, he heard everything.

"So... it was Maximilian Hart, huh?" He says. "I knew something was off."

"Mr. Cozbi!" Tamara grabs his wrists. "Don't tell me you're on his side!"

"No, why would I be?" Cozbi frantically shakes his head. "The man forced me to partake and I... I owe a great debt to Mr. Artino for forgiving me and saving my company."

A wave of relief on Katherine's part. She knew Cozbi would come through.

"If there's anything I can do to help you ladies," Cozbi continues. "Then do tell me. I'll do anything to make it up to Mr. Artino."

Katherine shoots him a smile, forever gratified.

"Alright," She then claps her hands together. "First of all, we need a clear confession out of him. He needs to state exactly what he's done and how he feels about it. The only way we'll be able to obtain that is..." She slowly turns to Selene. "You said he... tells you everything, right? Says it all enthusiastically even? Do you think you could get it on camera?"